Camcorder recommendation

DavidI · 11-16-2006, 07:23 PM

I am looking for a simple camcorder. It has to have low-light recording ability, stabilization, direct record onto DVD, and be rugged. I am looking in the $500 range.

What would you recommend. I plan on using at work, so it does not need all of the fancy bells and whistles.

Thanks, David

Jims5543 · 11-16-2006, 07:26 PM

I have found the DVD recorders to be sensitive to vibration.

What exactly are you going to do with it? Mount it in a car or carry it around or both?

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

I bought a MiniDV a ~ year ago for $400 and wished I got the direct to DVD recorder. Now they have direct to SD which in my mind is worlds better and probably more reliable. I just might toss the MiniDV and go that route for convenience alone.

alf · 11-16-2006, 10:50 PM

Forget the camcorder, unless you have specific need to get it on a DVD get a digital camera that could take movies and a bunch of SD/CF cards. And a flashlight

Jims5543 · 11-17-2006, 04:26 AM

SD cards will all but replace every other media in the near future. Very reliable not plane to any problems related to vibration noise etc.. And they are getting big enough to hold a lot of footage.

Mini Dv's are aweseom and we have used the in filming cars. The only frustrations is the lack of storage space.

I own a DVD camera and I hate it, its a JVC and I paid $1200 for it when they first came out because I had to have it. I prefer to reach over and use a Mini DV camera.

Also my JVC DVD camera records in a funky format. It works in DVD players but movie editing programs hate it and will not recognize it.

I am cusious what exactly he wants to do with it then I can recomend some really cool video setups from ultra simple Mini DV to "why didn't I think if that" DVR's.

DavidI · 11-17-2006, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
What exactly are you going to do with it? Mount it in a car or carry it around or both?

The purpose is for supervisors to be able to videotape events as they unfold on the streets. Sometimes people make allegations against police which may or may not be true. These allegations are investigated at the onset to prove or disprove them. We interview suspects, witnesses, and the scene.

The problem we have is that the camcorder must be simple to use, somewhat rugged, and low light capable.

If anyone has a particular model that they recommend, I'd appreciate it. Thanks, David

BGCarrera32 · 05:34 PM

Hey David...

I have a JVC GR-DZ7U Mini-DV camera that works decent in low light, is 2 mega pixel effective resolution, and doubles as a digital camera. Its a little on the pricey side for you ~$700 or so. It has the flip out screen on the side so its easy to tape with. I would recommend using Mini-DV tapes as they are cheap and you can catalog the tapes easily, packs of Mini-DV tapes can be had for cheap and will hold an hour a piece.

The only drawback on mine and something you want to think about is having the camera on charge through a 12v outlet or lighter outlet in the squad car. My JVC has a proprietary charger (i.e. goofy plug you can't get at Best Buy or Radio Shack) cable so you'll need to check any individual model to see if it will charge direct from 12v without some stupid adapter.

This camera is about 2 lbs or so and could easily be carried in a tactical bag and take a little knocking around.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1674786,00.asp

The review says the menus are not so easy to navigate which is true, but you can hit the power switch and be taping in 3-5 seconds.

Steer clear of cameras in this price range that have "optical" image stabilization. They blow.

Jims5543 · 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidI
The purpose is for supervisors to be able to videotape events as they unfold on the streets. Sometimes people make allegations against police which may or may not be true. These allegations are investigated at the onset to prove or disprove them. We interview suspects, witnesses, and the scene.

The problem we have is that the camcorder must be simple to use, somewhat rugged, and low light capable.

If anyone has a particular model that they recommend, I'd appreciate it. Thanks, David

The suggestion above will probably work for you.

Do not buy a DVD cam, my frustration with them is the fact that you have to wait 4-10 second after hitting the record button for the DVD to get to speed and it actually records.

4 seconds may not sound like a lot but its a lifetime, I missed so many things with my DVD camera because what I wanted to record was over by the time it was ready to record.

I bought some JVC clearance model Mini DV cameras at a local warehouse store, I paid $250 for them, they turn on really fast and record up to an hour on a tape in digital format. If one fell and broke I only paid $250 for it so I was not heartbroken over its loss.